In building an equitable and quality education system, South Africa has embraced an inclusive education approach in which the diverse needs of all learners must be accommodated. This move, as well as the additional pressures that a fast-changing world places on education, requires teachers constantly to adapt their instruction, the curriculum and the classroom environment (physical and virtual) to increase learner involvement and to minimise the exclusion of those learners who experience barriers to learning. Learner support in a diverse classroom provides a good balance between the theoretical knowledge needed to understand what takes place when a child learns, and the hands-on provision of assessment and support for the learner. Learner support in a diverse classroom offers creative solutions and solid foundations to any teacher wishing to bring out the best from his or her learners. It can serve as a manual on the practical ways to provide quality education, especially to those learners who experience special challenges in an inclusive environment. Learner support in a diverse classroom is aimed at all teachers and student teachers, and will also be of great use to parents.

In the modern world, language is the most important tool to succeed socially, academically and professionally. Since the foundation of any learning is established in the Foundation and Intermediate Phases, it is critical that ESL learners who struggle with English as the LOLT should be supported as early as possible, in order to ensure that they achieve their optimal learning potential. How to support English Second Language learners provides a background to the language-in-education scenario in South African as well as related theoretical issues on learning in a second language. It pays special attention to practical support strategies for ESL learners in the Foundation and Intermediate Phase who experience barriers to learning with regard to reading, writing, listening and speaking. Contents include the following: How language, and specifically how a second language, is acquired; Factors influencing the learning of a second language in the school-aged child; Creating a relevant context for language learning; Support strategies to improve English language proficiency; Literacy assessments as part of a comprehensive school assessment system. How to support English Second Language learners is aimed at both student teachers and teachers already practising in South African schools today.

This book provides deep insight into the social situation of students with different kinds of special needs in various European countries. Research findings concerning students' attitudes towards peers with disabilities, and teachers' feedback on students' social behaviour, are also presented. Full inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream education requires equity in each student's chances for academic and social-emotional development, and their participation in society. In the context of inclusive education, it is important to take students' social participation into consideration. Are students with special educational needs (SEN) accepted by their peers? Do they interact with their peers during breaks and classes? Do they have friends, or do they feel lonely in their class? This book seeks to answer such questions, seeing social participation as a crucial ingredient, as well as an outcome, of inclusive education. This topic is critical because many previous studies show students with SEN having a high risk of social exclusion. This volume will be of interest to everyone studying special needs education, especially those concerned with future improvement of social participation for all students. This book was originally published as a special issue of the European Journal of Special Needs Education. Chapter 1 is available Open Access at https://www.routledge.com/products/9780367209186.

Life Orientation in the Senior and Further Education and Training phases (called Life Skills in the Intermediate Phase) is a compulsory school subject. The purpose of this subject is to empower learners to achieve their full physical, intellectual, personal, emotional and social potential. It is thus obvious that it is a crucial subject to develop and support learners to become fully functional individuals and responsible citizens of a democratic society, able to cope with life and all the challenges it presents. Life Orientation for South African teachers is a comprehensive textbook on the subject of Life Orientation as stated in the curriculum policy documents. Life Orientation for South African teachers provides educators with in-depth knowledge as well as teaching skills to deal with the wide variety of themes within the subject. Besides a theoretical foundation there are case studies, reflective questions and activity boxes to assist with practical application of the topics covered in each chapter. Life Orientation for South African teachers is aimed at pre-service as well as postgraduate students in education.

This book provides deep insight into the social situation of students with different kinds of special needs in various European countries. Research findings concerning students' attitudes towards peers with disabilities, and teachers' feedback on students' social behaviour, are also presented. Full inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream education requires equity in each student's chances for academic and social-emotional development, and their participation in society. In the context of inclusive education, it is important to take students' social participation into consideration. Are students with special educational needs (SEN) accepted by their peers? Do they interact with their peers during breaks and classes? Do they have friends, or do they feel lonely in their class? This book seeks to answer such questions, seeing social participation as a crucial ingredient, as well as an outcome, of inclusive education. This topic is critical because many previous studies show students with SEN having a high risk of social exclusion. This volume will be of interest to everyone studying special needs education, especially those concerned with future improvement of social participation for all students. This book was originally published as a special issue of the European Journal of Special Needs Education. Chapter 1 is available Open Access at https://www.routledge.com/products/9780367209186.